Printable Biography of Jackie Mason

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Jackie Mason is such a performer, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest stand-up comics of all time.

Now more popular than ever, he combines lethal political satire with his own unique observations about everyday life. Jackie Mason holds the record for the longest Broadway run for any one-man show -- 12 years and still counting. Wherever he plays critics and audiences alike are unanimous in their acclaim.

Jackie Mason was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.He grew up surrounded by rabbis. His three brothers are rabbis. His father was a rabbi, and so were his grandfather, his greatgrandfatherand his great-great grandfather!

It comes to no surprise that Mason was a cantor until the age of 25 when he was ordained a rabbi. Three years later, he quit his synagogue to become a comedian because, as he says, "Someone in the family had to make a living."

Mr. Mason's first one-man Broadway show, The World According To Me, played to sell-out, standing-room only crowds for two years and was a phenomenal success on its American and European tours. The show earned Mason a special Tony Award for Outstanding Theatrical Achievement in 1989 as well as his first Outer Critics Circle Award, Ace Award, Emmy Award and Grammy nomination.

His next show, Jackie Mason: Politically Incorrect, completed a two-year, standing room only run at the Golden Theatre, then toured for two years around America and Europe.

This was followed by Jackie Mason Brand New, which completed a one-year, standing room only run at the Neil Simon Theatre for which Mr. Mason was awarded a second Outer Critics Circle Award and was nominated for Ace and Grammy Awards.

Following that, Mr. Mason appeared for an unprecedented fourth run on Broadway in Love Thy Neighbor, which opened at the Booth Theatre to rave reviews. In fact, all four of his shows were successful, box office, standing room only hits- an unparalleled achievement!

Mr. Mason won an Emmy and an Ace Award for the HBO special of his show, "Jackie Mason on Broadway" and received Grammy nominations for both of the comedy albums based on his Broadway shows.

And now, with the same skill that Mason has used in the past to examine the problems of personal relations, cultural differences, political and social issues that concern the people of America and the world, Much Ado About Everything again brings Mr. Mason's unique and incisively humorous perspective to the Broadway stage. Jackie was nominated for the prestigious Olivier award in England for his new Broadway show, Much Ado About Everything, which after a successful run at the golden theater in New York is now touring the United States.

Unafraid to tackle any subject no matter how controversial, in this new show, Mr. Mason examines everything from sexual harassment to racism to the White House.

Mason has received critical acclaim for all four of his Broadway shows from scores of publications such as The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the Associated Press and by every TV network. "Seeing Jackie Mason in person is Broadway's biggest bargain! In Love Thy Neighbor, he's at his superlative best" said the New York Post's Clive Barnes; "Roaringly funny! A welcome occasion. The wellsprings of Mr. Mason's comedy come from the bile ducts and the spleen, as he harpoons belly laughs in stormy sociological seas. Poking fun and pointing irreverent fingers, Jackie Mason ranks among the all-stars," said the New York Times' Lawrence Van Gelder; and said Associated Press reporter Michael Kuchwara, "Jackie Mason is at the top of his form. The show is very, very funny!"